Folding vehicle.



GpB. AMBLBR.

FOLDING VEHICLE.,

APPLIGATION FILED Amm, 1909.

1,099, 1 39. Patented June 2, 1914.

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FOLDING VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED Mms, 1909.

Patented June 2, 1914.

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COLUMBIA PLANcanAPH po., WASHINGTON. n. c.

G. B. AMBLER.

FOLDING VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 8, 1909. 1,099, 1 39, y Patented June 2,1914.

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GEORGE B. AMBLER, OF LEOMNSTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIG-NUR TO E'. A.. WHITNEY CARRIAGE C0., OF LEOMINSTEB, lWASSACHUSBTTS, A CBJPURATlON OL MASSA CHUSETTS.

FOLDING VEHCLE.

`To all whom it muy concern l Be it known that l, GEORGE B. AMBLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Leominster, in the county of "Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Folding Vehicles, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to collapsible vehicles and more particularly as regards the illustrative form herein described, to so called collapsible go-carts.

ln order that the character of the invention may be readily understood, l have disclosed an illustrative embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein-n Figure 1 is a side elevation of a collapsible vehicle embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, the seat, back, sides and handle bars being removed; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the vehicle shown in Fig. 1, parts being broken away; Fig. l is a rear end view of the vehicle in collapsed posr tion.

Referring to the drawings, the body frame 1 of the vehicle comprises a preferably metallic U-shaped, tubular member, on which a dash board 2 of any suitable construction may be mounted. The opposite members of the frame 1 may be connected by cross bands 3, d, supporting the springs 6 for the seat 5. A. foot support 7 may be provided, connected at one end to the seat 5 and at the other end, as by gromets 8, to Apins 9 on the body frame 1. Means may be provided to elevate the bottom of the foot rest into or toward the plane of the seat; as for instance, straps 10 secured to the bottom 11 of the foot support and having eyes 12 that may be engaged with the pins 9 when the bottom 11 is drawn forward and upward.

ln the illustrative construction handle bars 13-13 pivoted to the rear of the body frame 1, may be held in erected position by toggle braces 1&1 connected thereto and to frame 1. rlhe vehicle sides may be of any suitable construction and they are preferably connected with the handle bars to be collapsed therewth-as by having a link 16 on Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 8, .1.909.

Patented J une 2, 1914. serial no. 488,562.

each side pivoted at 17 to the handle bars, and at 18 to an upstanding lever 19 which is itself pivoted at 20 to a side of the frame 1. Each link 16 may be provided with an arm 21. Additional side links 22 may be provided, pivoted at 23 and 2d respectively to the levers 19 and to the handle bars 13. The vehicle may have a back 25 pivoted at 26 to the seat 5. lThe specific back 25 is arranged to be adjusted to either an upright position as illustrated in Fig. 1, or a substantially horizontal position constituting an extension of the seat 5. This may be effected by providing a guide or loop 27 on the back for a yoke 23 pivoted upon hangers 30 secured to the links 16. lf desired, the vehicle sides may be provided with flexible curtains 31 or the like.

By the above described illustrative construction the superstructure of the vehicle may be folded or collapsed by merely swinging the handle bars 13 forwardly (toward the left in Fig. 1), thereby rocking the levers 19 contra-clockwise in Fig. 1, and lowering side links 16 and 22 to positions proximate the body frame 1. At the same time the back 25 is folded forwardly by the forward movement of the yoke 28 with the link 16.

To permit the running gear to be folded into compact position, the front and rear wheels 32, 33 on each side are mounted on axles carried by a side spring 311 having its upstanding ends 35, 36 pivoted to hangers 37, 33 depending from thebody frame 1. lhis arrangement permits the wheel carrying springs or frames to be folded from the erected position of Fig. 3 to the collapsed position of Fig. Il. The folding and erecting of the wheel carrying frames may be controlled by mechanical means of a novel type embodying features of the invention as eX- emplified in the mechanism about to be described.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, one wheel carrying spring or frame 3e has connected thereto a toggle lever 39, 40 having a joint 41, the arm 39 of the toggle being pivoted at 42 upon a hanger l13 on the cross piece 3. To the other wheel carrying frame 3d is eonnected a toggle 1111, l5 having a joint e6, the arm 45 being pivoted at d? to another hanger on the cross piece 3. These toggles may be made to operate conjointly as by means of a link 49 connecting the toggle arm 39 with a bracket 49 fixed on the arm 45 of the other toggle. 1With the described arrangement the wheel carrying frames may be folded by turning the toggle arm 39 clockwise in Fig. 3, breaking the joint 41 and drawing upwardly the link and the connected Wheel carrying frame. Concurrently the link 49 is lifted, by the arm 39, to turn the arm W45 of the other toggle contra-clockwise on its pivot 47 thereby breaking the joint 4G and folding up the second wheel carrying frame. The parts of this illustrative toggle mechanism are so proportioned and arranged that the respective wheel frames are folded in succession, the frame at the left in Fig. 3, preceding that at the right, so that the two shall be superposed, when folded, as shown in Fig. 4, while avoiding any interference or obstruction of the folding operation. Vihen the parts are erected as in Fig. 3, it is preferred that the toggles 397 40 and 44, 45 be substantially alined so that each shall constitute a firm brace to prevent improper flexing of the wheel frames. It will be observed that the wheel frames are under continuous control by the toggle mechanism during and between folding and erecting operations, whereby their conjoint operation is effectively defined and the parts are under firm control both when erected and when folded. The end of the lever 39 on the right in Fig. 3 serves conveniently to receive the application of force by which the toggle mechanism is operated. 1f desired the toggle mechanism may be operatively connected with other foldable parts of the vehicle, as with the handle bars, whereby said parts together may partake of so-called single motion folding and erecting operations. For insta-nce, referring to Figs. 1 and 3 the end of the toggle arm 39 is connected by a link 52 with the horizontal arm of a bell-crank 59 pivoted at 51 on the body frame. The vertical arm of the bell-crank is connected by a link 53 to a bracket 55 iixed upon one of the levers 19 heretofore described in connection with trie superstructure of the vehicle. By this means the toggle mechanism is operatively associated with the handle bars 13. .Vhen the latter are folded forwardly (see Fig. 1) they turn the lever 19 contra-clockwise; this forces the link 53 toward the right the bell-crank 50 is thereby turned contra-clockwise; and (see Fig. 3) the outer end of the toggle arm 39 is depressed to effect the folding operation as already described. lt is preferred that the parts of the toggle mechanism be placed more or less under tension and locked in position when erected in order that the bracing effect on the wheel carrying frames may be of maximum stability and effectiveness to insure against improper flexing of the wheel frames. To this end the invention contemplates tensioning means for the erecting mechanism exemplified by the construction and arrangement of the link 53, bracket 55 and lever 19.

Referring to Fig. 1, the bracket 55 is fixed on the lever 19 and carries the pivot 54 for the link 53. Consequently said pivot 54 moves in an arc about the fulcrum 2O of the lever 19, and correspondingly shifts the line of centers between said pivot 54, and the pivot 53 by which the opposite end of the link 53 is connected to the bell-crank 50. lVhen the parts are erected as in Fig. 1, this line of centers lies above the fulcrum 20 and thereby the pull by the toggle mechanism on the link 53 establishes a moment about the fulcrum 20 tending to hold the whole system in erected position. In approaching erection the pivots 54 and 53 pass through a dead-center position with the fulcrum 20; and the various elements of the mechanism are preferably so proportioned and dimensioned that the approach to and passing of the dead center strains and tensions the whole system more or less whereby it becomes self-locking when the link 53 passes dead-center, and at the same time maintains the system under tension to hold the parts rigid and prevent rattling and looseness. Nhen erected (see Figs. 3 and 4) parts of each wheel carrying frame may abut against stops 60, on the respective brackets 37, 38 arresting erecting movement of the frames and, by reaction, contributing to hold the mechanism tensioned.

The speciiic mechanism described for illustration braces apart the wheel carrying frames at their rear portions only, near the rear wheels. TWhile this might sufce on some grades of vehicles, it is preferred that additional bracing means be supplied nearer to the front wheels. For this purpose the levers 19 may be extended downwardly to a point between the horizontal runs of the side frames 34 (Figs. 1 and 3) to prevent the latter from springing inwardly. Clips 56 on the side frames may embrace the downwardly extended levers 19 to prevent the frames from springing outwardly. If desired the levers 19 may be connected by a cross-piece 19ZL (Fig. 3) as by having the two levers and the cross-piece formed in a 'single piece bail asshown. In the illustrated construction the bail 19, 19a is withdrawn from bracing position, during the collapse of the vehicle, in due season to permit wheel frames to be folded in by the toggle mechanism. In the erecting operation, the toggle mechanism erects the wheel frames and thereupon the bail 19, 19a swings down between the wheel frames into bracing position.

It is to be understood that the above described illustrative embodiment of the in- Y vention may be variously changed and modi- Vzo lied as will appear to those skilled in the art, within the proper scope of the invention as it is defined in the subjoined claims. It is not indispensable that all the features of the invent-ion be used conjointly since they may be used to advantage separately.

Claims:

l. A vehicle comprising; in combination; a body; foldable wheel-carrying means; two levers fulcrumed to the body upon axes substantially parallel to the axes of folding movement of the wheel-carrying means; links connecting said levers respectively with the wheel-carrying means for folding the same; and means operatively connecting the two levers to cause conjoint operation thereof. l

2. A vehicle comprising, in combination, a body; foldable wheel-carrying means; two levers fulcrumed to the body upon axes substantially parallel to the axes of folding movement of the wheel-carrying means; links connecting said levers respectively with the wheel-carrying means for folding the same; means operatively connecting the two levers to cause conjoint operation thereof; foldable handle bars; and means operatively connecting the handle bars and one of said levers for causing conjoint folding movement of the handle bars and Wheel carriers.

3. A vehicle comprising, in combination, a body; foldable wheel-carrying means; two levers fulerumed to the body upon axes substantially parallel to the axes of folding movement of the wheel-carrying means; links connecting said levers respectively with the wheel-carrying means for folding the same; means operatively connecting the two levers to cause conjoint operation thereof; foldable handle bars; and a system of levers including a bell crank pivoted to the body connecting said handle bars and the folding` levers for causing conjoint folding movement of the handle bars and wheel carriers.

4. A vehicle comprising; in combination; a body; foldable Wheel-carrying means; a toggle mechanism connected to the wheelcarrying means for folding the same and pivotally supported by the body, whereby said toggle mechanism operates upon such pivotal support; said pivotal support having its axis substantially parallel to the axis of folding movement of the wheel-carrying means; and an actuating lever connected to the toggle mechanism and fulcrumed to the body on an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of folding movement of the wheel-carrying means.

5. A vehicle comprising; in combination, a body; foldable wheel-carrying means; a toggle mechanism connected to the wheelcarrying means for folding t-he same and pivotally supported by the body; whereby said toggle mechanism operates upon such pivotal support; said pivotal support having its axis substantially parallel to the axis of folding movement of the wheel-carrying means; an actuating lever connected to the toggle mechanism and fulcrumed to the body on an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of folding movement of the wheelcarrying means; handle bars pivoted upon an axis substantially parallel to that of said actuating lever; and means connecting the handle bars and said actuating lever.

6. A vehicle comprising; in combination, a body; foldable wheel-carrying means; a toggle mechanism connected to the wheelcarrying means for folding the same and pivo-tally supported by the body, whereby said toggle mechanism operates upon such pivotal support, said pivotal support having its axis substantially parallel to the axis of folding movement of the wheel-carrying means; an actuating lever connected to the toggle mechanism and fulcrumed to the body on an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of folding movement of the wheelcarrying means; handle bars pivoted upon an axis substantially parallel to that of said actuating lever; and means connecting the handle bars and said actuating lever including the toggle mechanism which moves to opposite sides of dead center as the vehicle is collapsed or erected.

7 A vehicle comprising; in combination, a body; handle bars pivoted to the body on an axis transverse to the body; an upright lever pivoted to the body upon an axis substantially parallel to that of the handle bars; a lilik connecting the handle bars and said upright lever; a lug projecting laterally from said upright lever in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of movement of the lever; a link pivoted to said lug remote from the fulcrum of the lever and extending substantially across said fulcrum; foldable wheel-carrying means; folding means for folding the wheel-carrying means; connected to and operated by said last named link; whereby in folding and erecting the parts said last named link moves from one side to the other of the fulcrum of said upright lever.

8. A vehicle comprising; in combination, a body; foldable wheel-carrying means; combined folding and bracing means pivoted to the body proximateone end of the vehicle,

t0 swing upon an axis substantially parallel to the axis of movement of the Whee-carrying means; and additional bracing means proximate the other end of the vehicle pivoted to the body to swing upon an axis substantially perpendicular to the aXis of movement of the Wheel-carrying means; and means connecting the rst named folding and bracing means and the additional bracing means to cause conjoint operation 10 thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this speoieation, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE B. AlVIBLER.

Witnesses LAURENCE A. JANNEY, Evnnn'rr S. EMERY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, 'by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. C. 

